Illuminable slide switch



W. GLUCK I ILLUMINABLE SLIDE SWITCH Filed Dec. 25, 1965 INVENTOR.WILLIAM GLUCK .,ATTORN EYS United States Patent Cfifice 3,369,485Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,309,485 ILLUMINABLE SLIDE SWITCH William Gluck,Monroeville, Pa., assignor to UID Electronics Corp., Hollywood, Fla., acorporation of Florida Filed Dec. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 515,980

10 Claims. (Cl. 200-467) The present invention relates in general toselectively illuminable switches and more particularly concerns a novelselectively illuminable electric slide switch in which the feature ofselective illumination is made available within the confines of aconventional slide switch package at a relatively slight increase incost.

It is an important object of this inveniton to provide a selectivelyilluminable slide switch.

It is another object of the invention to achieve the preceding object byusing a conventional slide switch package.

It is still a further object of the invention to achieve the precedingobjects at relatively slight increase in cost.

According to the invention, there are a number of fixed contactsinsulatedly separated and supported in a base. Sliding contact means isarranged for selectively interconnecting adjacent ones of the spacedcontacts along essentially a linear path of relative movement.Illuminable light bulb means is arranged closely adjacent to andgenerally parallel to the linear path of relative movement. Actuatingmeans is provided for establishing relative movement between the slidingcontact means and the number of insulatedly separated contacts along theessentially linear path. Means including the base and actuating meansenclose the illuminable light bulb means and have a translucent portionfor transmitting light from the bulb means when illuminated.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following specification when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide switch having an internalilluminable light bulb for providing externally visible light;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slide switch handle of translucentmaterial according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows -a slide switch handle of opaque material having atranslucent insert for transmitting light from the internal bulb whenilluminated;

FIG. 4 shows still another form of slide switch handle of opaquematerial having slots for maximally transmitting light from theillum-inable bulb;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another slide switch handle havinga chimney-like opening for transmitting a relatively large amount of thelight from the internal bulb especially useful under rocker, toggle andother types of actuators;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through section 66 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are end and bottom views respectively of the illuminableslide switch of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of a technique for wiring the bulbso that the light is illuminated when the load is on.

With reference nowto the drawing and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof,there is shown a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theinvention in which the basic switch structure is generally of the typedisclosed in Gluck US. Patent No. 3,072,757. However, the principles ofthe invention are applicable to any type of slide switch.

The specific switch shown in FIG. 1 is a double-throw double-pole slideswitch generally of the type shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the aforesaidpatent but having a central groove 11 in front wall 12 (FIG. 2) oftranslucent handle 13 so that the handle may slide over illu minablebulb 14 inside the housing including contact base plate 15, metalhousing 16 and switch handle 13 protruding through aperture 17 inhousing 16. A row of terminals 21, 22 and 23 depend from correspondingfixed contacts, adjacent ones of which are selectively interconnected byslide 24, shown dotted in FIG. 1. Handle 13 may be translucent as shownin FIGS. 1 or 2. As best seen in FIG. 2 handle 13 may be formed with alongitudinal groove 25 on one side of groove 11 and another longitudinalgroove 26 on the other side of groove 11 for accommodating therespective sliding contacts for the twopole switch shown.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an opaquehandle .13 essentially the same in structure opening 34 of thetranslucent single piece 35 or separate translucent strips 36 and 37.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown still another slide switch handle13" patterned structurally generally along the lines of handle 13 butformed with a hollow protrusion 33' so that light may be transmitted notonly through openings 31' and 32, but also through chimney-like opening36. This handle is especially convenient for use with a toggle-operatedslide switch of the type shown in FIG. 12 of the aforestaid patent orthe rocker-arm actuated switch generally of the type commerciallyavailable from UID Electronics Corp. of Hollywood, Florida. In suchswitches the rocker arm, the toggle and/or toggle housing wouldpreferably be translucent.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a longitudinal sectional viewthrough section 6-6 of FIG. 1 more clearly illustrating how neon glowbulb 14 may be internally positioned. FIG. 6 shows the three terminals41, 42 and 43 depending from corresponding in-line cont-acts supportedin insulating base 15. Bulb 14 has two leads 44 and 45 and is connectedin series with resistor 46. Lead 44 is connected to lead 47 of resistor46. The other lead of resistor 46 is connected to terminal 23. Lead 45of bulb 14 passes through an opening in base 15 andis connected tocenter terminal 22.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an end view of the switch shown inFIG. 1. This view not only clearly shows the arrangement of the bulb 14and resistor 46, but also more clearly shows the arrangement of thesliding contacts 24 and 51 on opposite sides of the bulb 14 as describedabove. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the switch of FIG. 1 helpful infurther understanding how the physical connections are made.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a schematic circuit diagram ofasuitable switching arrangement in which the double-throw single-poleswitching means comprising fixed terminals 21, 22 and 23 and theirassociated fixed contacts and sliding contact 24 function to both switchthe line voltage on terminal 21 to a load connected to center terminal22andto switch this voltage across the series combination of bulb 14 andcurrent limiting resistor 46 to ignite bulb 14 when the load connectedacross terminal 22 and the line connected to terminal 23 is energized.The second pole associated'with sliding contact 51 and fixed terminals41, 42 and 43 is still availare applicable to singleapole switches andmultiple-pole multiple-throw arrangements. The principles of theinvention are also applicable to igniting more than one bulb, especiallywhere the slide switch comprises three or more poles. In an exemplaryembodiment of the invention actually constructed with a single-polearrangement, an NE-Zh neon bulb was employed. It is within theprinciples of the invention to employ other bulbs, such as incandescentbulbs. It is also within the principles of the invention to employdifferent circuit arrangements for selectively illuminating the internalilluminable bulb means. For example, it is within the skill of thosehaving ordinary skill in this electrical art to wire the arrangement forload on-lamp off operation and load off-lamp on operation and to use thecontacts associated with one pole for only controlling the illuminationof the bulb while using the contacts associated with other poles tocontrol functions in external circuits. The foregoing m-odifications anduses are by way of example only and not as a limitation on theinvention.

For a circuit arrangement in which the line voltage varies from 105-125volts A.-C. a neon bulb in series with a resistor of the order of 30,000ohms results in adequate illumination of the bulb without excessivecurrent being drawn.

The practical significance of the invention is better appreciated whenone realizes the enormous number of electrical products, such asamplifiers, instruments and other products too numerous to mention,having separately wired and housed light bulbs to indicate the condi- 7tion of a switch-selected function. The present invention not onlyeliminates the cost and wasted space associated with such separate lightassemblies, but also ties the indication of the condition unambiguouslyto the switch controlling the condition at negligible additional costover the switch cost alone and at no increase in panel area over thatoccupied by the switch itself.

It is apparent that those skilled in the art may now make numerous usesand modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments.described herein without departing from the inventive concepts.Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each andevery novel feature and novel combination of features present in orpossesed by the apparatus and techniques herein disclosed and limitedsolely by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 1

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property, orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An illuminable slide switch comprising,

a base,

a plurality of insulatedly separated contacts supported essentially inline in said base,

sliding contact means for selectively interconnecting adjacent ones ofsaid plurality of contacts,

means supporting said base and said sliding contact means for relativemovement along a substantially linear path embracing said plurality ofcontacts to selectively interconnect adjacent ones of said contacts,

illuminable light bulb means supported closely adjacent and generallyparallel to said path,

means responsive to establishment of a predetermined relative positionbetween said sliding contact means and said plurality of contacts forilluminating said bulb means,

actuating means establishing relative movement between said slidingcontact means and said plurality of contacts along said path,

and means including said base and said actuating means surrounding saidilluminable bulb means,

said means including translucent means for transmitting light from saidilluminable bulb means when the latter is illuminated to the outside ofsaid means for surrounding.

41 2. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid actuating means comprises a first housing having means definingcompartment means surrounding said sliding contact means and relativelymovable with respect to said base,

said compartment means being closely adjacent to and generally parallelto said illuminable bulb means, said first housing having an end wallformed with a groove for accommodating said illuminable bulb means. 3.An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidfirst housing is formed with at least one translucent portionimmediately adjacent to said illuminable bulb means which portioncomprises said translucent means.

4. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 3 wherein saidmeans comprises a second housing in fixed relationship relative to saidbase and coa-cting with said base to define first housing compartmentmeans for accommodating said first housing,

said second housing formed with an aperture having a projection on saidilluminable bulb means, said actuating means including handle means infixed relationship relative to said first housing and extending throughsaid aperture. 5. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 4wherein said first housing and said handle means is a unitary structureof translucent material.

6. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidfirst housing and said handle means is a unitary structure with said atleast one translucent portion in a wall of said first housing spacedfrom and generally parallel to said base plate and registrable with saidaperture so that light from said illuminable bulb means may betransmitted through said aperture and said at least one translucentportion.

7. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidhandle means is formed with a handle translucent portion comprising saidtranslucent means which latter portion is in fixed relation to andregistrable with said at least one translucent portion so that lightfrom said illuminable bulb means may also be transmitted through saidhandle translucent portion.

8. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidilluminable bulb means comprises a neon bulb having first and secondelectrodes and further comprising,

means connecting said first electrode to one of said plurality ofcontacts,

and a resistor adjacent to said base and outside said means connectingsaid second electrode to another of said plurality of contacts.

9. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidilluminable bulb means comprises a neon bulb having first and secondelectrodes and further comprising,

means connecting said first electrode to one of said plurality ofcontacts,

and a resistor adjacent to said base and outside said means connectingsaid second electrode to another of said plurality of contacts.

10. An illuminable slide switch in accordance with claim 7 wherein saidilluminable bulb means comprises a neon bulb having first and secondelectrodes and further comprising,

means connecting said first electrode to one of said plurality ofcontacts,

and a resistor adjacent to said base and outside said means connectingsaid second electrode to another of said plurality of contacts.

No references cited.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O; JONES, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ILLUMINABLE SLIDE SWITCH COMPRISING, A BASE, A PLURALITY OFINSULATDELY SEPARATED CONTACTS SUPPORTED ESSENTIALLY IN LINE IN SAIDBASE, SLIDING CONTACT MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY INTERCONNECTING ADJACENTONES OF SAID PLURALITY OF CONTACTS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BASE AND SAIDSLIDING CONTACT MEANS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY LINEARPATH EMBRACING SAID PLURALITY OF CONTACTS TO SELECTIVELY INTERCONNECTADJACENT ONES OF SAID CONTACTS, ILLUMINABLE LIGHT BULB MEANS SUPPORTEDCLOSELY ADJACENT AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PATH, MEANS RESPONSIVETO ESTABLISHMENT OF A PREDETERMINED RELATIVE POSITION BETWEEN SAIDSLIDING CONTACT MEANS AND SAID PLURALITY OF CONTACTS FOR ILLUMINATINGSAID BULB MEANS, ACTUATING MEANS ESTABLISHING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEENSAID SLIDING CONTACT MEANS AND SAID PLURALITY OF CONTACTS ALONG SAIDPATH, AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID BASE AND SAID ACTUATING MEANS SURROUNDINGSAID ILLUMINABLE BULB MEANS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING TRANSLUCENT MEANS FORTRANSMITTING LIGHT FROM SAID ILLUMINABLE BULB MEANS WHEN THE LATTER ISILLUMINATED TO THE OUTSIDE OF SAID MEANS FOR SURROUNDING.